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Built 2026-11-05 (5 November 2026)

South Korea vs Taiwan: Electricity Compared

South Korea generated 628 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Taiwan 289 TWh, according to Ember. South Korea's largest source was coal (31.1%); Taiwan's was gas (48.8%). Each kWh generated emitted 418 gCO2/kWh in South Korea and 634 gCO2/kWh in Taiwan. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Who is bigger and who is cleaner? South Korea is the bigger electricity producer, generating 2.2 times as much as Taiwan in 2025 (628 TWh against 289 TWh). South Korea has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 418 gCO2/kWh against 634 gCO2/kWh in Taiwan in 2025.

Why this comparison: both among the 20 largest electricity users.

Open this comparison in the interactive tool to add more countries or change the metric.

Key Facts

  • Nuclear supplied 29.4% of South Korea's electricity in 2025, against 1.1% in Taiwan.
  • Taiwan's electricity was 1.5 times as carbon intensive as South Korea's in 2025, at 634 gCO2/kWh against 418 gCO2/kWh.
  • Low carbon sources supplied 39.9% of South Korea's electricity in 2025 and 13.5% of Taiwan's.
  • Electricity demand in 2025 was 628 TWh in South Korea and 289 TWh in Taiwan.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
Measure South Korea Taiwan
Total generation628 TWh289 TWh
Electricity demand628 TWh289 TWh
Demand per person12.09 MWh12.50 MWh
Carbon intensity418 gCO2/kWh634 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions262 MtCO2183 MtCO2
Low carbon share39.9%13.5%
Largest sourceCoal 31.1%Gas 48.8%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
Source South Korea Taiwan
Gas 28.0% 48.8%
Coal 31.1% 36.1%
Nuclear 29.4% 1.1%
Solar 6.0% 5.5%
Wind 0.6% 4.2%
Bioenergy 3.2% 0.8%
Hydro 0.6% 1.9%
Other fossil 1.0% 1.5%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in South Korea and Taiwan, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in South Korea and Taiwan each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 418 gCO2/kWh in South Korea and 634 gCO2/kWh in Taiwan. 0 200 400 600 800 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in South Korea and Taiwan each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 418 gCO2/kWh in South Korea and 634 gCO2/kWh in Taiwan.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in South Korea and Taiwan, 1985 to 2025
YearSouth KoreaTaiwan
1985524 gCO2/kWh331 gCO2/kWh
1986431 gCO2/kWh411 gCO2/kWh
1987345 gCO2/kWh393 gCO2/kWh
1988405 gCO2/kWh449 gCO2/kWh
1989383 gCO2/kWh494 gCO2/kWh
1990379 gCO2/kWh456 gCO2/kWh
1991399 gCO2/kWh485 gCO2/kWh
1992427 gCO2/kWh510 gCO2/kWh
1993451 gCO2/kWh553 gCO2/kWh
1994493 gCO2/kWh561 gCO2/kWh
1995479 gCO2/kWh570 gCO2/kWh
1996481 gCO2/kWh584 gCO2/kWh
1997492 gCO2/kWh602 gCO2/kWh
1998463 gCO2/kWh606 gCO2/kWh
1999453 gCO2/kWh612 gCO2/kWh
2000462 gCO2/kWh635 gCO2/kWh
2001475 gCO2/kWh654 gCO2/kWh
2002473 gCO2/kWh654 gCO2/kWh
2003458 gCO2/kWh666 gCO2/kWh
2004463 gCO2/kWh664 gCO2/kWh
2005450 gCO2/kWh665 gCO2/kWh
2006451 gCO2/kWh670 gCO2/kWh
2007474 gCO2/kWh670 gCO2/kWh
2008477 gCO2/kWh660 gCO2/kWh
2009495 gCO2/kWh658 gCO2/kWh
2010500 gCO2/kWh653 gCO2/kWh
2011497 gCO2/kWh653 gCO2/kWh
2012502 gCO2/kWh650 gCO2/kWh
2013512 gCO2/kWh644 gCO2/kWh
2014493 gCO2/kWh646 gCO2/kWh
2015488 gCO2/kWh650 gCO2/kWh
2016489 gCO2/kWh659 gCO2/kWh
2017511 gCO2/kWh685 gCO2/kWh
2018519 gCO2/kWh673 gCO2/kWh
2019497 gCO2/kWh649 gCO2/kWh
2020458 gCO2/kWh648 gCO2/kWh
2021460 gCO2/kWh652 gCO2/kWh
2022438 gCO2/kWh639 gCO2/kWh
2023427 gCO2/kWh644 gCO2/kWh
2024416 gCO2/kWh635 gCO2/kWh
2025418 gCO2/kWh634 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in South Korea and Taiwan, 1985 to 2025 Electricity demand per person in South Korea and Taiwan each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 12.09 MWh in South Korea and 12.50 MWh in Taiwan. 0 4 8 11 15 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Electricity demand per person in South Korea and Taiwan each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 12.09 MWh in South Korea and 12.50 MWh in Taiwan.
Annual statistics through 2025, MWh
Electricity demand per person in South Korea and Taiwan, 1985 to 2025
YearSouth KoreaTaiwan
1985n/an/a
1986n/an/a
1987n/an/a
1988n/an/a
1989n/an/a
1990n/an/a
1991n/an/a
1992n/an/a
1993n/an/a
1994n/an/a
1995n/an/a
1996n/an/a
1997n/an/a
1998n/an/a
1999n/an/a
20006.21 MWh8.28 MWh
20016.59 MWh8.40 MWh
20027.02 MWh8.81 MWh
20037.32 MWh9.22 MWh
20047.72 MWh9.60 MWh
20058.14 MWh9.97 MWh
20068.39 MWh10.28 MWh
20078.83 MWh10.57 MWh
20089.15 MWh10.32 MWh
20099.32 MWh9.93 MWh
201010.15 MWh10.64 MWh
201110.55 MWh10.83 MWh
201210.71 MWh10.72 MWh
201310.73 MWh10.78 MWh
201410.69 MWh11.08 MWh
201510.75 MWh10.97 MWh
201610.94 MWh11.20 MWh
201711.20 MWh11.44 MWh
201811.48 MWh11.65 MWh
201911.34 MWh11.58 MWh
202011.13 MWh11.83 MWh
202111.72 MWh12.35 MWh
202212.02 MWh12.31 MWh
202311.93 MWh12.11 MWh
202412.09 MWh12.43 MWh
202512.09 MWh12.50 MWh

South Korea history · Taiwan history

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.

Cite this page
APA 7

World Power Monitor. (2025). South Korea vs Taiwan: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/south-korea-vs-taiwan/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. South Korea vs Taiwan: Electricity Compared. Data as of 2025. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/south-korea-vs-taiwan/

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_compare_south_korea_vs_taiwan_2025,
  title = {{South Korea vs Taiwan: Electricity Compared}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/south-korea-vs-taiwan/}
}

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